By Kayode Adeoti
The Kwara Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, last Thursday, fixed June 13 and 14 for the commencement of hearing in a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the veracity of the certificate of the Governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Bassey Effing, announced the date after listening to counsels representing the parties in the suit at the continuation of pre-hearing session on Thursday.
The chairman also announced the change of time saying the Tribunal will henceforth sit at every hearing date by 10am.
Recall that the PDP governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa had filed the petition challenging the declaration of Abdulrazaq as governor.
The PDP claimed the governor-elect does not have a secondary school leaving certificate, a legal prerequisite for anyone running for the office of governor.
Effiong said the petitioners would have four days – June 13, 14 and July 9 and 10- to call their witnesses who would then be cross-examined by the respondents.
The first respondent, INEC, will have two days (July 11 and 12) to present its defence.
The chairman added that Abdulrazaq, who is the second respondent, would present his defence on July 16, 17 and 18 while the third respondent, APC, would present its defence between July 23, 24 and 25.
Effiong also said the report of the pre-hearing conference would be available after May 27.
The matter was later adjourned till May 27 for the adoption of various motions already filed by all the parties.
…Saraki’s suit against EFCC slated for June 24
By Kayode Adeoti
Following an order by the Federal High Court Abuja for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to halt probe of Bukola Saraki’s earnings as Governor of Kwara State, the court has said a hearing of the case would begin on June 24, 2019.
Saraki had approached the court to stop the anti-graft agency from investigation his earnings and emoluments while he was the Governor of Kwara from 2003 to 2011.
He had also branded the investigation as witch-hunt with the EFCC asking him not to be afraid as long as he has no skeleton in the cupboard.
At the hearing on Thursday, all counsel informed the presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, that all notice has been served to the respondents.
Counsel to Saraki, Sunday Onobi, said, “We have served all the respondents the originating process and the order of the court and we have also received the fourth respondent’s (EFCC) counter affidavit to which we need to respond.”
Similarly, Solicitor -General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, told the court that he had filed a counter affidavit to the originating summons filed by Saraki.
Chile Okoromma, counsel to EFCC, also said that he had filed a counter affidavit and a written address in response to Saraki’s suit. He added that all parties in the processes would be served.
Justice Taiwo ruled that all processes should be served and replied to before the next adjourned date to enable hearing to begin.
The trial judge adjourned the matter until June 24.
